The worry is that the chinchilla will refuse to eat unless being served the ingredient (even if a health condition requires them not to eat it anymore.) Take a look at this guide that shares the types of water your chinchilla can drink, If you want to know everything you need to know about chinchilla water bottles in less than 3 minutes then check our easy to follow guide here. as it helps them to put on weight quickly but this is usually only offered until the age of around 9 months old. Average Chinchilla Lifespan: How Long Do They Live? 1 What Foods Are Poisonous To Chinchillas? Do make sure to feed them every day and check if their droppings are dry and normal. While hay should be offered in unlimited quantities, feeding large amounts of high-calcium alfalfa hay to non-breeding, adult chinchillas has been associated with the development calcium-based bladder stones. 2.5 Dried Cranberry And Apple. Get practical pet health tips, articles, and insights from our veterinary community delivered weekly to your inbox. We recommend that you stick to simple and researched greens and vegetables rather than experimenting with all sorts of different options that really arent needed, remember, a chinchilla only needs a simple diet to be both happy and healthy. Collect. Limit fruits and sugary vegetables (e.g., carrots) to <1 teaspoon/day. Provide hay in your chinchilla's cage at all times so it has something to graze on. 3 Spot-clean soiled bedding daily, and do a full bedding change weekly when you wash everything in the enclosure with mild soap and water. What Do Chinchillas Eat: Diet & Food Guide. Our main focus is helping owners to better understand and care for their pets with both straight forward and actionable advice. For example, if you have horses then you know they're prone to overeating. The most important thing is to provide chinchillas with additional water, especially in summer, and monitor their daily water intake. chinchillabreeders.org is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com. Do you see that furry animal? Fiber: should be at least 15%, preferably up to 35%. Again, you can head over to our dedicated page herewhere we share all of our recommended food products for your chinchilla and the best place to purchase them from. Cavies Know Their Body and Can Regulate Their Guinea Pig Food Intake. Chinchillas in the wild typically eat most of their food in . Food Options. Cat food comes in many different varieties: wet, semi-dry, and dry. This list includes common household foods that hamster should avoid but is by no means exhaustive. The rest can be a mix of pellets, fruits and vegetables, herbs but it's different for each species, as . 2.2 Dried Fruits And Herbs. An aggressive cat will attack the chinchilla but with patience, you can train the pets to coexist. They will consume stalks, stems, leaves, shoots, fruits, seeds and roots . Chinchillas in the wild tend to consume most of their food early in the morning and late at night. Chinchillas dont need a whole lot of greens in their diet but they are still important in the right quantities. Plain Cheerios. When they are let out of their cage, chinchillas Chinchillas come in a wide variety of colors. The answer is that chinchillas do need fresh water daily and if they dont have access to water they will become dehydrated and eventually become ill and die. Dont make sudden changes in their diets as it can upset their stomach. Fresh drinking water should be offered daily in a water bowl or bottle. As you know, chinchillas are plant-eating animals. This is because fatty foods are very harmful to their digestive system. Chinchilla Pet Animals and Pets. We love merrick dog food, including dry and canned food, too! Lets now take a look at each of these and see why you need to only offer foods that are high in these nutrients sparingly. Even though this might sound really confusing, if you follow the feeding guide later in the post then you should have no issues with over or underfeeding greens to your chinchilla. Purebred Silver & White chinchilla. Because of the sensitive nature of a chinchillas digestive tract, sugar can be extremely harmful even if its fed in moderate quantities. This is a general rule for most small animals such as hedgehogs and even the majority of reptiles. The average pet chinchilla lifespan is 15-20 years They have very different nutritional needs. Or, you could hand out small amounts of peanut butter or cheese. Pelleted diets are better than a mixture of loose items. Feed them right, and youll have a happy, cuddly pet for many years. Here is a breakdown of the nutrients your chinchilla needs in their diet and in what percentages. You can just grab little bits of a few things and make a little sampler jar! Specific Substrate Needs. 4. The PDSA also recommends that you bake any wood you offer to your chinchilla for an hour and also give it a thorough wash to ensure its safe and clean. It is also built with a speaker for remote interaction with pets. Like most animals in the world, chinchillas require a variety of nutrients to be considered healthy and for their organs to work correctly. Reasons Why Theyre Smart. They love to play and interact with humans which makes them excellent pets. Another important thing that they eat is pellets. Its advisable to have a big enough cage for your chinchilla to jump around should they ever feel threatened by your cat. Persians (the Chinchilla is in the Persian or Longhair cat family) can carry a gene that leads to kidney failure (called autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease) through the development of cysts in the kidney. By Laurie Hess, DVM, Dipl ABVP (Avian Practice). Chinchillas should be given 1-2 tablespoons of pellets per day, and Bunk-Hatch recommends Oxbow Essentials. As with all pets, a proper diet is key to health and long life in chinchillas. Thankfully, nowadays, there is a variety of hay available so that you can choose the hay type that your chinchilla loves the most. As you know, chinchillas are very active, so they run around a lot. Do have hay constantly as well; keep a rack with hay and replace it routinely before it gets moldy. The bottom line is, chinchillas dont need treats, but if you feel bad or want your chinchilla to be happy, then you can give them treats occasionally. The good thing is that even though chinchillas dont eat a vast selection and variety of foods, they get most if not all of the nutrition they need from this basic diet. Source: The teeth of a chinchilla are also constantly growing and coarse hay is a must to keep their teeth short and shaped correctly. In conclusion, make sure to feed your chinchilla with care and monitor their diets properly. "Hay should be offered free choice 24 hours a day and should be the main component of your chinchilla's diet." Hay should be replaced daily with fresh hay to prevent bacteria and mold growth. Providing greens in small amounts and not too often is something you will have to get used to as a chinchillas owner due to the fact that chinchillas have unusual nutritional needs. We have created a list of common foods that chinchilla owners regularly contemplate feeding their chinchilla. You can repeat the process for a few days, gradually increasing the time frame. If you ask your chinchilla what their fave treats are, dried cranberries and raisins are at the top of their list. Oxbow Essentials Deluxe Chinchilla Food. You may also be able to give your chinchilla treats like rose petals, rolled oats, or even non-frosted shredded wheat. As you know, chinchillas are plant-eating animals. Feeding any type of cat food to your chinchilla is a bad idea, however, feeding them wet cat food is one of the worst things you can do. Indigestible bedding, such as wood shavings, also can cause obstructions. Made in USA; On Sale; Up to 25% Off: Select . Even though your chinchilla and cat might get along just fine, its advisable never to leave these two pets unsupervised or unattended when interacting with each other.if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'smallpetshq_com-portrait-2','ezslot_20',176,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-smallpetshq_com-portrait-2-0'); With that said, for your cat and your chinchilla to get along are two different things you must consider before getting these two pets living in the same house. Its important to understand that this is a guide only. This post contains affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on my links. If you dont have at least a basic understanding of chinchillas dietary needs, then there is the potential they could become seriously ill as they have extremely strict dietary requirements. Avoid feeding dried fruits. As a Chewy & flexoffers affiliate I earn commissions for qualifying purchases. Actually, a good portion of their diet is already rabbit food. Semi-dry foods consist of dried milk and grain. As well as knowing what foods chinchillas can eat, its also important to understand what common foods your chinchilla should be staying away from too. I'm a pocket pet enthusiast and I love sharing my knowledge and passion for these amazing animals. The hamster food will not be nutritionally beneficial to them. Dont give rabbit pellets as, again, these two animals are quite different. Studying the plants that chinchillas eat on a regular basis was particularly interesting for those scientists. For these two pets to live in harmony with each other, patience and constant supervision is necessary. Both critters should be eating a high quality hay as the majority of their diet. If you want to bring a chinchilla into your home, you could be worried about their diet and general health. I'm the main author of Pocket Pets Forever. Yes, cats do attack chinchillas as their rodents, which they see as prey. In this post, we will share the foods your chinchilla should be eating on a daily basis, how much they should be eating as well as what foods they need to stay away from. Buy Merrick Dog Food online in Canada from Canadian Pet Connection. In addition to this, the chinchilla may choose to hide, seeking safety from the cat, thereby making it hard to locate. Can Chinchillas Eat Hamster Food? Poppy. Stay on top of the latest news about canine behavior, nutrition and health. Fruit can cause problems to chinchillas such as. hay, fresh vegetables, and pellets should still make up the majority of their diet. Give your chinchilla space from the cat, which sees it as a prey. Feeding adult chinchillas too much alfalfa hay can cause obesity and even calcium stones as the level of calcium and other nutrients is too high and out of balance. The chinchilla's pellets should be put in a food bowl, and they should be given fresh pellets every day. Chinchillas in the wild will eat a variety of plants, shrubs, and grasses. Answer (1 of 2): It is not so much that they are 'fragile', but have different habitat requirements than we are used to. This is because chins can get ill if they are exposed to large amounts of water on their fur. If you feed them the correct diet, chinchillas generally keep themselves at the right weight. Chinchillas are among the most intelligent and fun pets to have. Just make sure that they are safe. [What Owners Will Want To Know]Continue, This post contains affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on my links. Chinchillas need hay between 14% and 16% plant protein. Answer (1 of 2): Why would you want to do that? As a general rule of thumb, chinchillas dont need fruit to be considered healthy and they dont need it in their diet. They are high in sugar, however, so give sparingly. On top of this, wet cat food has a tendency to stick around in the digestive tract for long periods of time. Although it is made from flour, bread has very few nutrients for chinchillas. This post contains affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on my links. But can rabbits eat chinchilla food safely? Distilled water isnt as easy to get hold of as water from the tap and it, unfortunately, does not contain any minerals which your Chinchilla needs. No, Apples should not be given on regular basis to Chinchillas but Chinchillas can eat Apples but only in moderation. They shouldn't be used in place of a proper diet of chinchilla pellets and hay. 4. Chinchillas only need to consume around 3-5% fat in their diet which is easily attainable from their base diet so foods such as. Image Credit: Natalis.ph, Shutterstock. On the flip side to this, if your chinchillas have more phosphorus than calcium in their diet then this can also cause health problems with muscle development, bones health and growth. Due to their opportunistic nature in the wild, most chinchillas will eat any leaves, seeds, fruits, and nonpoisonous insects that it can come across, and because they are endangered . Dont discourage your pet from eating its own dropping, as it is natural for them to do so. Chinchillas require a diet that mainly consists of timothy hay with the addition of supplementary chinchilla pellets. Chinchillas require a diet high in fiber and low in fat. This leads to severe pain as they chew, in addition to drooling and possible eye discharge from upper tooth root pressure on tear ducts. Now, lets talk more about the healthy treats that you should feed these exotic animals. To make sure that your pet eats food properly, you need to make the feeding time fun. Providing your chinchilla with safe wood for them to chew on is the best and most convenient option. Finally, chinchillas need foods that help to keep their teeth grounded over time. and how to get rid of itContinue. Can Chinchillas Eat Cat Food? It is also better to distribute the food all over the cage to make it fun and much healthier for the domestic animal. Hay which is sweeter and has more nutrients, should be mostly given to young chinchillas and only occasionally to adult chinchillas. Once this condition occurs, there is nothing that can be done other than to provide pain medication and soft foods. As it turns out, chinchillas have an absolutely wide diet that varies considerably in the texture, hardness, nutritional value, etc. This is because cats instinctive desire is to hunt down rodents while chinchillas tend to be more reserved and usually love hiding.if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'smallpetshq_com-mobile-leaderboard-2','ezslot_13',177,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-smallpetshq_com-mobile-leaderboard-2-0'); Therefore, before you can even test whether your cat and chinchilla can get along, the first thing to do is establish each of these species personality traits. Cats are carnivores (meat-eaters) whereas chinchillas are herbivores (plant-eaters). We will be constantly adding new dedicated posts where we spotlight popular fruits so you can see in detail if the fruit is safe as well as how often and how much to offer your chinchilla. Below we have listed the most common greens that your chinchillas can safely eat in moderation as part of a healthy and balanced diet. Over time, your cat might get used to your chinchilla and stop attacking it altogether. Also note: the initial interaction shall be concise, lasting only a few minutes. Water should be provided in the form of a water bottle rather than a bowl as this is much more hygienic for your chinchilla. Locust pods. The problem is that the majority of fruits are high enough in sugar to cause your chinchilla digestive problems amongst other things so only a handful are really considered safe enough to eat even in small quantities. If you want to give them something extra special, then you can include some fruit snacks, peanut butter, cheese, or eggshells into their food bowl every once in a while. This means your cat gets to see your chinchilla but isnt in a position to touch it.if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[320,50],'smallpetshq_com-portrait-1','ezslot_19',188,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-smallpetshq_com-portrait-1-0'); You also need to make sure that this area is just as comfy as where your chinchilla is to avoid your cat from wanting to stretch inside the cage bars.if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'smallpetshq_com-leader-4','ezslot_8',189,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-smallpetshq_com-leader-4-0'); Moreover, make sure there isnt a bed positioned over the chinchillas cage to prevent your cat from having a post from where it might try and reach the chinchilla. This means that chinchillas require a diet rich in protein but low in fat and carbohydrates. Acidic foods can upset the pH balance of your chinchillas stomach and, as such, can cause stomach ulcers. However, in this list are food items that you should absolutely not feed your chinchilla and if you do, then going to a vet is the best course of action. You need to ensure your cat has a comfortable sitting area thats far from the chinchillas cage. Here Are Safe Wood Options For Chinchillas to Chew On: There is often a lot of confusion about if chinchillas actually need water. Hi, my namesElena Coolidge, and this is my site. You should also provide them with a dry food that has been specifically designed with chinchillas in mind. Bread and Dairy Products. When it comes to pellets for chinchillas, its important that you purchase pellets that are specifically designed for chinchillas. Overconsumption of pellets can also be fattening and can lead to obesity and diarrhea due to excess carbohydrate ingestion. Hamsters eat more carbohydrates than chinchillas do, but both species need food with plenty of protein and calcium. There are some great hay-based pellets out there on the market that complement your chinchillas hay-based diet and fill in the gaps in your chins nutrition really well. You must always do this even after these two pets are acclimatized to each other and coexist peacefully. So, what should you feed a chinchilla? Orchardgrass. 1 The deluxe chinchilla food is made from high-fiber alfalfa meal to promote gastrointestinal health, with added fiber, protein, and fat derived from soybeans. and how to get rid of it, The Best Chinchilla Toys (Review) in 2023, Are chinchillas Smart? Please talk to your vet for a detailed diet plan that suits the individual needs of your pet. Dried fruit is often preferred to regular fruit, this is down to the fact that dried fruit offers much less water (which is considered bad for chinchillas) as well as increased levels of other nutrients such as fibre. By contrast, cats require a diet high in both fat and carbohydrates. Following this diet routine is to make sure your chinchilla doesnt turn into a malnourished animal. Commercial pelleted food is also available for chinchillas but should be offered in limited quantities of no more than one-to-two tablespoons per day for an adult chinchilla. Never change your chinchillas' diet suddenly, as this could upset their digestive system and make them very ill. Dried Herbs. You shouldn't have a chinchilla in the same house or at least keep your chinchilla in a separate room. Therefore, its best if you minimized contact between these two pets. Yes, chinchillas can eat C heerios, . The treats that these exotic animals eat are dried rose hips, dandelion, and hibiscus leaves, basically dried fruits, and root vegetables should be given to them. Chinchillas are herbivores and their diet consists mostly of hay, vegetables, and a small amount of fruit. Chins have a high metabolism and can eat constantlyideally, they shouldn't go without food for more than 12 hours, but 24 hours is doable if absolutely necessary. (Later in this post, we will share the exact brand of timothy hay we recommend you purchase as well as the cheapest place to get it from). The most crucial behavior factors about cats you need to know about them is that they are: On the other hand, the personality traits of the chinchilla are: With such divergent personality traits, its now evident why your cat and chinchilla might struggle to get along just fine. Chinchillas are South American rodents that have continuously growing, open-rooted teeth to compensate for the wear that occurs from chewing on very abrasive, high-fiber grass and hay. Too much calcium can have a negative effect on a chinchillas health as excessive amounts can cause calcium stones. If you want to get a pet chinchilla, you should take into consideration some important things before buying them. Eggshells are rich in calcium and, as such, theyre an excellent source of nutrition for your chinchilla! Because chinchillas teeth grow throughout their lives, when they are not offered enough hay (and consume mainly pellets), the surfaces of their top and bottom teeth collide inside their mouths with such force as they chew that the roots of their teeth become impacted, like a persons impacted wisdom teeth. With all things considered, the best 2 hay choices for your chinchilla are. The small animals love their leafy snack so much that they can live off it alone. 2.1 Fresh Vegetables. These adorable kittens are loving , caring and very affectionate. If this is a problem you were undergoing, reading this insightful article has enlightened you to understand better if cats and chinchillas can get along. Chinchillas can easily get their head trapped in these toys and suffocate. Once you do this, you can be sure that your cat wont be able to swipe your chinchilla or its cage as they get used to each others company.if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,600],'smallpetshq_com-sky-3','ezslot_21',190,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-smallpetshq_com-sky-3-0'); While you might be excoriated to introduce your chinchilla to your entire family, and this includes your cat, its vital first to make sure it first gets used to you. . 29493 7 Mile Road . Occasionally, they will eat insects and bird eggs. You can preset the desired amount of food amount for your cat to eat and keep it healthier. Fruits and Veggies - Fresh fruits, fresh greens, and other veggies are a healthy part of your chinchilla's diet as well. Like. Because of this, its a good idea to keep their diet simple and stick to their base diet as much as possible and only add the foods that are needed to keep your chinchilla healthy. Chinchillas are herbivorous and do not eat animal-based products. So, what exactly do chinchillas eat? Chinchillas can consume a wide variety of human foods, most notably vegetables, fruits, seeds, nuts, and grains. For a healthy domestic animal, you need proper food and a diet plan. Growing, breeding, and nursing chinchillas may be fed a larger amount of pellets to provide additional calories, protein, fat and calcium. Chinchilla's natural environment is the Andes mountains. If you have to leave your chin alone for up to 24 hours, ensure you leave out plenty of food and water to cover the time span.